9874posts
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Coverage of national drive to end rough sleeping
There is extensive national coverage across print, broadcast and digital platforms of the department’s announcement that everyone sleeping rough in England will be offered a route off the streets this winter, backed by a £442 million package. Following an interview …
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Data, people and growth: Join us at DataConnect26
Join DataConnect26 on 6 and 7 October to explore how better data can drive growth, improve services and provide for people and places.
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Water Quality and Moorings Survey: life, data and science at sea
Monitoring our UK Marine waters Monitoring marine pollution in UK waters is essential for understanding how coastal and offshore ecosystems are changing, where pressures are emerging, and whether management actions are helping seas recover. Long-term, high-quality observations of nutrients, chlorophyll, …
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Tackling the loneliness of leaving care
Clare Chamberlain, co-chair of the Independent Review into the Deaths of Care Leavers, shares what the review found, and why care leavers need more than a Personal Adviser to help them navigate life after care and thrive as adults.
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Latest statement in response to small boat crossings
A Home Office spokesperson said: "This Government is bearing down on dangerous small boat crossings and restoring control at our border. Joint efforts have seen over 48,000 crossing attempts prevented and 1,100 boats and engines seized since the election. “We …
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What is Salmonella and what can you do to avoid catching it?
With UKHSA currently helping to investigate a national outbreak that may be linked to eggs imported from outside of the UK, we've answered some of the questions we're most commonly asked about this bacteria, the symptoms it causes, and how we track it.
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Services Week 2026 Wrap Up
This year's Services Week saw an incredible 4,000 attendees across 80 sessions, delivered by over 30 different government departments. We reflect on the event's success and how to stay connected to the community.
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Two Years On: My Reflections as Chief Regulator
Two years ago, the Environment Agency created the Chief Regulator's Group to provide strategic leadership for regulation. We’re helping create a more consistent, effective and proportionate regulatory system and strengthening the connection between strategy, policy and delivery.
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Forests for water: applying the UK Forestry Standard in practice
Chris Waterfield, Carbon and Water Woodland Advisor, explains how you can apply UK Forestry Standards to create and manage woodlands to improve flood alleviation, water quality and aquatic habitats.
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Food Fact Check: Can you get salmonella from eggs? What you need to know.
Cymraeg We're working closely with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and other partners to investigate an outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis. Investigations so far have identified potential links to eggs imported from outside of the UK, mainly used by food …
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Leading AST: A Unique Opportunity at the Heart of GAD
Dhanisha Sanghrajka, the outgoing Head of the Analytical Solutions Team shares insights on leading GAD’s analytical centre of excellence and the opportunities ahead for her successor.
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Your land, your choice: how Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier can work for farmers and land managers
By Dougal McNeill, Principal Officer, Agri-Environment Delivery, Natural England This blog explains and breaks down the role of Defra, RPA and NE in the Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier process, while also discussing some of the benefits and challenges of the …
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Leading pensions work that matters: reflections from the Head of Public Service Pensions
GAD’s Head of Public Service Pensions reflects on a unique and impactful role that involves shaping decisions affecting millions in the UK. The role combines technical expertise with strategic leadership to support government on pension challenges.
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Dragons' Den IP Blog - Series 23 Episode 8
It’s the return of series 23 of Dragons' Den and tonight's episode served up plenty of food for thought, with confectionery creativity and spice-inspired stories firmly on the menu.
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Tackling drought: aquifer recharging to smart irrigation trials
Through the Farming Innovation Programme and its ADOPT Fund, we’re backing farmer-led ideas that strengthen access to water and help businesses adapt to increasingly hot and dry weather. In this post, we share 3 farmer-led projects already underway.
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A Digital Fast Stream Secondments Journey: How the secondment strengthened my product and strategy Skills
How a six-month Digital FastStream secondment strengthened my skills in Product, Strategy and Decision-Making.
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How digital verification services can help businesses meet their obligations under the Money Laundering Regulations
In early 2026 we (DCMS, formerly DSIT) worked with HM Treasury to publish guidance under the Money Laundering Regulations (MLRs). The guidance sets out how certified and registered digital verification services (DVS) that operate in compliance with the UK DVS trust framework (“trust framework”) can be treated as reliable and independent sources of …
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Preventative Analytics for Youth Justice: The Advisory Panel's First Steps
Preventing children and young people from being drawn into crime and the criminal justice system can have profound effects later in life. Did you know that 80% of prolific adult offenders get their first cautions or convictions as children? Spotting …
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A thinking partner: Copilot as assistive technology
Since 2023, Defra has been running targeted trials and rollouts of Microsoft Copilot - a personal AI assistant integrated within Microsoft apps. These pilots highlighted the meaningful ways it can benefit colleagues who are neurodivergent and/or have a disability or other access need and, as such, we made full licenses available as a reasonable adjustment. …
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‘Document upload’ is coming soon: a quicker, easier way to send us your documents
We’re pleased to tell you that we're introducing a new ‘Document upload’ service in the Rural Payments service. This new online service will give you a simpler, more secure way to send us documents and supporting evidence. Instead of using …
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Apply now for the latest ADOPT funding rounds
Eligible applicants can now apply for funding through the latest rounds of the Accelerating Development of Practices and Technologies (ADOPT) Fund.
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The Secret Life of a Suburban Garden Visitor
In this post learn more about hedgehogs and how you can help them.
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Why light matters: CST’s advice on securing competitive advantage through photonics
Photonics underpins key technologies and UK strengths. CST highlights a clear growth opportunity and calls for coordinated action to build capability and global leadership.
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Climate adaptation: strengthening the UK’s resilience to climate change
Following advice on climate adaptation and resilience, CST supported an FST event on enhancing the UK’s preparedness and resilience to climate change.
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GCSE, level 1 and 2 results 2026 at a glance: key trends and context for teachers
More than 5.7 million GCSE results have been issued to students in England today, along with more than 374,000 results for level 1 and 2 vocational and technical qualifications. This year’s GCSE results are stable overall in comparison with those in 2025. Small variations are normal from year to year and from subject to subject.
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The 2026 National Reference Test: rising attainment in maths and what this means for grades
The 2026 National Reference Test results are out. They show a long-term trend of slightly improved attainment in GCSE maths, but not in English language. To ensure standards are maintained, we told exam boards to take the NRT results into account when setting some GCSE maths grade boundaries. Here we explain what that means.
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Beyond the bite: how science helps the UK stay ahead of mosquito-borne diseases
What can mosquitoes reveal about emerging disease threats? Discover how APHA scientists track viruses, monitor wildlife and help keep the UK one step ahead.
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GCSE results day 2026: Everything you need to know including the number grading system
Thousands of students across the country will soon be finding out their GCSE results and thinking about the next steps in their education. Here we explain everything you need to know about the big day, from when results day is, …
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Putting Nature at the Heart of Healthcare: My Reflections from Bristol
By Marian Spain, CEO of Natural England In this blog, NE's Chief Executive Marian Spain reflects on her recent visit to healthcare sites in Bristol to explore how partners are incorporating nature into health and wellbeing, and discusses Natural England's …
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Designing GOV.UK Chat for the GOV.UK app
Learn how we designed GOV.UK Chat to integrate into the GOV.UK app and the improvements we made based on user insights.
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Is your appeal decision written in the stars?
Claire Sherratt, an Inspector Profession Lead, explains how we decide which procedure your appeal should follow and why headline rates of allowed appeals don’t tell the full story.
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What are the certification requirements for digital verification services that are being used for alcohol purchases?
The proposed changes to the Mandatory Licensing Conditions enable an important new use case for digital verification services (DVS). Once in force, DVS can be used to support the sale and supply of alcohol in England and Wales. Understandably, DVS providers have been asking what this means for certification, registration …
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Identify with confidence using MMO’s species ID cards
Identify cuttlefish, gurnards, octopus, sharks and squid with MMO’s ID cards and report with the right codes to support better data and fisheries management.
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How can a business be confident that a digital proof of age belongs to the person presenting it?
The Licensing Act 2003 (Mandatory Licensing Conditions) (Amendment) Order 2026 (“the Mandatory Licensing Conditions”), once it is approved by Parliament and has come into force, will enable retailers and hospitality venues in England and Wales to accept digital proofs of age …
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Trimming the Terabytes: How to reduce your digital storage
Discover how BIST's Microsoft Service team reduced SharePoint storage without interrupting normal service, using version trimming. Learn practical lessons on information management, governance, and achieving better value for taxpayers.
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Delta Fire: British Innovation Supporting Frontline Firefighting
King’s Awards for Enterprise recipient Delta Fire Ltd is demonstrating how British manufacturing and innovation can help fire and rescue services respond to both established and emerging operational challenges. Based in Norwich, Delta Fire designs and manufactures specialist firefighting equipment …
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Reports claiming planning reforms make it easier to approve unauthorised Traveller sites are wrong
Several newspapers have claimed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) will make it easier for unauthorised Traveller developments to get planning permission. This is not correct. The claims have misinterpreted the policy and the important changes we have …
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Coverage of changes to the National Planning Policy Framework
There has been widespread national coverage of the government’s announcement on reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), including new measures to support housing delivery around transport hubs and stronger protections for pubs. The Financial Times, The Sun and …
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Engineering Practice Hackathon: a day of collaboration, AI and innovation
What happens when you ask 40 engineers to use their skills and AI tools to transform the experience of new employees joining DWP Digital? In July 2026, the Engineering Practice Hackathon brought together expertise from across the organisation and gave them just …
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How digital verification services can be used to support alcohol purchases
The Licensing Act 2003 (Mandatory Licensing Conditions) (Amendment) Order 2026, once it is approved by Parliament and has come into force, will enable retailers and hospitality venues in England and Wales to accept digital proofs of age when selling or …